Thursday, 10 December 2015

Rhubarb, rhubarb, rhubarb at the allotment

Just the one task for us
this week at the allotment and that was to put our collection of
rhubarb crowns in. We all went down to help prepare the part of the
plot that we had designated for the rhubarb. The previous plot
tenants had already put the boards in place so it was just a case of
digging over the soil.

As we started turning over
the soil it was noticeable the number of worms wriggling about in it.
This one was awarded the status of 'superworm'!

When we told the kids it was
time to start digging they were all for it. Master JibberJabber is
very proud of his new fork while Miss JibberJabber has a border spade
which is the perfect size for her. However, then we told them that in
order to make the soil better for the rhubarb to grow we had to add
compost and manure. “What's manure?” Well...I think they thought
it would come out of the bag looking exactly like poo and so they
were both relieved and surprised to find it looking just like soil.

Next was to position the
rhubarb on the prepared soil. I'm only showing these two photographs
as we forgot to take makers with and with six crowns and three
different varieties we need to remember what's what! So from left to
right we have Champagne, Raspberry Red and Timperley
Early.

After we worked out which
way round each of the crowns went (this was actually quite tricky for
some of them) in they went. Of course now it's time for patience as
the first sticks of rhubarb won't be ready now for around 18 months
but it's still good to know we have got some more of our own produce
planted. Next on the list are some more raspberry canes which we went
and bought afterwards. Sadly I won't be able to make it down to the
allotment this Sunday as I have to escort Master JibberJabber to yet
another party (hopefully no dancing to YMCA or the Birdie Dance this
week) so I will leave that task to Mr and Miss JibberJabber.

If after seeing photograph
upon photograph of brown soil here's a little bit of colour from my
Instagram feed
this week. If you need any convincing of how unseasonably mild it has
been one of my daffodils has bloomed. As I have to explain to
everyone who knocks on the front door they are an early flowering
variety and they are meant to flower in January and February.
However, like other years with very little frost (we have only had
one so far) they do come out in December. Merry Christmas!

6 comments:

Love your allotment plot, it looks very neat & you are very organised with your soil prep. Ours is a sea of weeds at the moment! Rhubarb is such a great plant to grow...virtually impossible to kill it! #HDYGG

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